Holder for socket wrench sets



C. VALLONE HOLDER FOR SOCKET WRENCH SETS Filed Sept. 18, 1928 MM 4 9% J Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES CHARLES VALLONE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T BARGALO TUBING COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK HOLDER FOR SOCKET WRENCH SETS Application filed September 18, 1928 Serial No. 306,688,

This invention relates to improvements in holders for socket wrench sets, and which sets usually comprise a number of sockets of graduated sizes, and a bent handle, to either end of which a socket can be detachably secured for use.

The objects of the invention are to construct an improved, simplified and inexpensive socket wrench set holder; also toprovide a novel holder for this purpose, in which the sockets are supported in spaced and classified relation, prevented from any substantial lateral or endwise movement, and which may be formed in a simple manner of pressed sheet metal; also to provide a holder of this kind to which the handle of the socket set can be quickly and detachably secured in a position for retaining the sockets in place on the holder; also to improve theconstruction of holders for socket wrench sets in the other respects hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a socket wrench set secured in a holder constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention. v

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with the handle for the sockets partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical section thereof, with certain of the sockets omitted:

Fig. at is an end elevation thereof;

Figs. 5 and 6 are transverse, vertical sections thereof, on lines 55 and 66, respectively, Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section of one end of the holder, on an enlarged scale, on line 7-7, Fig. 4; h

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the holder with the tools removed; 7

The socket wrench set for which the holder of the present invention is intended comprises a plurality of sockets 10 of graduated sizes, and an L-shaped handle 11 formed of a bar of polygonal cross section and comprising a relativelylong, straight armor portion 12 and a short arm or bent-over end por tion 13 extending substantially at right angles thereto.

The sockets 10 are of somewhat cylindrical form and of substantially equal length, and each is formed with a large end 14 and extent to which the handle enters the sockets a reduced end 15 separated by a transverse, annularshoulder 16. The shoulders of all sockets are the same distance from the outer 15 of allthe sockets are also preferably of. graduated sizes and each provided with a longitudinal hole corresponding approximately in size and shape to the cross section of the handle 11, and is adapted to receive eitherthe bent-over end or arm 13 or the 5 6 opposite end of the arm 17 thereof.

The handle 15 is provided near each end with suitable stop means 18 for limiting the and between sald stop means and the ad acent extremity of the handle a suitable friction catch or holding member, such as a spring pressed ball 19 is provided, which whena socket is appliedto an end ofjthe handle, frictionally engages the wall of the handle-receiving aperture therein, and detachably retains the socket in place thereon.

The improved holder 20 for socket wrench sets of the type described is preferably a single sheet metal, channel shaped stamping, having a narrow horizontal web 21 and opposite, depending side flanges 22 extending lengthwise of the holder. V

The web 21 is provided with a plurality 01 holes or apertures 23 arranged in spaced I relation and preferably graduated in size, which sizes correspond to the graduated sizes MANUFAC- of the reduced ends of the sockets, and which form seats for the reception of the sockets 10.

Each aperture or seat 23 is of such size that by inserting the reduced end 15 of the socket intended for that seat downwardly into the latter, the shoulder 16 will engage and rest on the edges of the seat, and the socket will" fill the aperture and be held against rattling or lateral displacement. The sockets are thus supported in spaced relation with their large ends 14 projecting a uniform distance above the holder.

The handle 11 may be detachably connected to andarrang'ed on the holder 20, as shown,

with its long, straight portion or arm 12 extending lengthwise over and disposed closely adjacent the upper, enlarged ends 1a of the sockets, and with the short arm or bent-over end of said handle depending at one end of said row of sockets, so that the sockets10 are held in place on their seats 23 and substantially prevented from endwise movement out of the latter by said handle portion 12.

For thus supporting the handle, the holder is provided with an upstanding transverse arm or projection 25, formed, for example, of an extended portion of the web 21, and which has an aperture a disposed so as to somewhat loosely receive the end 17 of the handle when in the position shown.

At its opposite end, the holder is formed so'that the short arm or bent-over end 13 of the handle can be detachably but firmly connected thereto, and for this purpose the web 21 of the holder is provided with an additional seat or opening 26 adjacent the end socket seat 23. This seat 26 preferably corresponds to the cross sectional shape, and is approximately of the same or only slightly greater dimensions than the handle 11.

Therefore, by first inserting the end 17 of the handle 11 into the aperture 25a and then bringing the downwardly extended, bentover end 13 of said handle intoregistration with and inserting the same into the seat 26, this end of the handle can be releasably connected to the holder by merely exerting suflicient downward pressure on said handle to force the spring catch'19 past the edge of or through the seat 26. r V

The stops 18, in this operation, will engage the upper face of the web 21 and limit the extent towhich the part 13 enters the seat 26.

The edge of the seat 26, if desired, can be flanged or beaded downwardly as at 27, see Fig. 6, the depth of said flange preferably being substantially equal to the distance between the catch 19 and said stops 18, so that said catch will engage the one side of said holder 20 and the stops 18 the other side. The handle will thus be releasably confined to said holder and firmly held in socket-retaining position.

The'handlev can be readily detached, to

' permit the removal of the sockets, by a slight upward pressure on the lower extremity of the bent-over end or arm 13.

The general shape of the holder 20 and the arrangement of the socket wrench set thereon is such that the holder can rest on a sup porting surface with the edges of the flanges 22 engaging the latter. The depth of these flanges 22 is preferably made somewhat greater than the length of the reduced portions 15 of the sockets 10, see Fig. 3, so that said sockets are supported on their seats out of contact with said supporting surface.

As shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 7 the projection or arm 25 is reinforced by means of one or more corrugations 30 extending lengthwise or vertically of said arm. These corrugations 30 are preferably extended to the adand the wrench handle can be readily and easily applied to the holderfor retaining the sockets thereon, or disconnected therefrom for giving access to the sockets. The spaced seats in the holder retain the sockets in an orderly and classified arrangement and prevent them from shifting laterally on the holder, or being assembled out of order on the holder. Inasmuch as the distance from the shoulders 16 to the outer ends of the nutreceiving cavities is uniform for all the sockets, the projecting ends of the sockets when assembled on the holder will all lie in substantially the same plane, and the handle will lie closely along all of the sockets.

I claim as my invention:

1. A holder for a wrench outfit of the type comprising a plurality of individual sockets having large and small ends separated by a transverse shoulder, and a bar handle therefor, said holder comprising a horizontal channel shaped member having a web and depending side flanges and having arow of spaced seatsinthe web thereof for individually supporting said sockets with their shoulders resting upon said web and their small ends depending between the flanges of said holder, and interengaging means at 0pposite ends of said holder and said handle for releasably retaining the latter in a lengthwise position over the large ends of said sockets for holding them in their seats.

2. A holder for a wrench outfit of the type comprising a plurality of individual sockets having large and small ends separated by a transverse shoulder, and a bar handle therefor, said holder comprising a horizontal channel shaped member having a web and depending side flanges and having a row of spaced seats in the web thereof for individually supporting said sockets with their shoulders resting upon said web and their small ends depending between the flanges of said holder, and interengaging means at opposite ends of said holder and said handle for releasably retaining the latter in a lengthwise position over the large ends of said sockets for holding them in their seats, said interengaging means including an upstanding integral extension of one end of said web having an aperago gas

ture in which one end of said handle releasably engages.

3. A holder for a wrench outfit of the type comprising a plurality of individual sockets having large and small ends separated by a transverse shoulder and a bar handle therefor, said holder comprising a horizontal channel shaped member having a web and depending side fianges and having a row of 10 spaced seats in the web thereof for individually supporting said sockets with their shoulders resting upon said web and their small ends depending between the flanges of said holder, and interengaging means at opposite ends of said holder and said handle for releasably retaining the latter in a lengthwise position over the large ends of said sockets for holding them in their seats said interengaging means including an upstanding integral extension of one end of said web having an aperture in which one end of said handle releasably engages, and said web extension and the adjoining portion of the Web being reinforced by a bead extending lengthwise thereof and across the angle therebetween.

CHARLES VALLONE. 

